Comment: The following article appeared in the Cyprus Mail of Nicosia on 13 May 2003

Papadopolous: Annan plan is outdated

IN
HIS first interview since the elections, President Papadopoulos
described the Annan plan on Cyprus as outdated, adding that many of its
provisions must be revised to adapt to ongoing political developments
and the island’s accession to the EU.

Pundits observed that Papadopoulos’ interview -- published in a
supplement of Greek newspaper To Vima -- was partly to counter
accusations that his government had failed to request the good offices
of the UN Secretary-general for the resumption of talks. The President’s
response was that Kofi Annan himself informed him he would not
undertake any new initiatives on Cyprus unless there were “strong
indications that both sides were willing to reach a solution.”

“What the UN Secretary-general means by ‘indications’ is that the
plan be accepted as is and unconditionally,” Papadopoulos interpreted.

“And he (Annan) wants a date to be fixed for the carrying out of
referenda.”

Despite reiterating that he was ready for dialogue with the
Turkish-Cypriot side, Papadopoulos pointed out that the Annan plan was
“not exactly unrealistic, but rather outdated in some of its
provisions.” He went on to list a number of improvements to the plan.

According to the President, one of the plan’s major drawbacks was
the composition of the “Presidential Council,” which comprises four
Greek-Cypriot and two Turkish-Cypriot ministers. In Papadopoulos’ view,
this form of the executive was not in line with the acquis
communautaire.

Papadopoulos was also opposed to the rotating presidency stipulated
in the Annan plan, saying former President Glafcos Clerides was also
against it.

Other drawbacks were restrictions on human rights, such as freedom
of movement, settling in homes and right to property. He also said there
were limitations to democratic procedures in the election of
parliament.

The last round of talks collapsed in March when the two leaders
failed to reach an agreement at The Hague. A visibly disappointed Annan
described the impasse as a “missed opportunity,” hinting he would not be
undertaking any new initiatives any time soon. Most observers blamed
the deadlock on the intransigence of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash.

In a recent interview with another Greek newspaper, Denktash
reiterated his long-held position on two separate states on the island.
The veteran Turkish-Cypriot leader went on to suggest that the Republic
of Cyprus be “de-recognised.”

He also claimed that the southern part’s accession to the EU was
illegal under past treaties and therefore posed the major obstacle to a
political settlement. Denktash warned that accession to the EU would
lead to a permanent division of the island."